Liquid phase synthesis is a powerful method for the formation of uniform sized nanoparticles and nanoparticles with a faceted morphology. General strategies for the formation of nanoparticles and through chemical synthesis will be outlined. The results presented will include the formation of catalytic metals such branched nanostructures of gold, palladium and ruthenium. The growth mechanism of how the particles form will also be presented along with HRTEM observations. Catalytic applications will be discussed with a focus on branched ruthenium based systems for electro-catalysis of the oxygen evolution reaction shown below.